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Today's News

Russell Hewitt
An open house is being planned for Russell Hewitt in honor of his 91st birthday.
The reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. this Saturday at Brookstone Estates on West Fillmore Street in Vandalia.
Family and friends are invited to the reception. The family requests that no gifts be given.
A card shower is also being requested for Hewitt, who was born on Sept. 12, 1921, in Danville. Cards may be sent to 1607 W. Fillmore St., Vandalia, Ill. 62471.

Capt. Adam W. Cole and Krista S. Kukowski have announced their engagement and upcoming marriage.

The future groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Cole of Vandalia.
He is a 2001 graduate of Vandalia Community High School, earned his undergraduate degree in history from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in diplomacy from Norwich University.
He is a captain in the Illinois Army National Guard, serving as the commander of C Co. in Litchfield. He works at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Mr. and Mrs. David Durbin of Farina will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this Sunday.

David and Lila Durbin were married on Sept. 16, 1962, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in St. Peter.
They are the parents of three children: Sherri and her husband Don VonBehren of Summerville, S.C., Darren of Alma and Brady of Farina.
They have four grandchildren: Kara VonBehren, Alec VonBehren, Kyle Durbin and Shelby Durbin.
Cards and letters from family and friends may be sent to: 206 N. Mulberry St., Farina, Ill. 62838.

Joe and Ruth Smithson of Farina will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 28.

The Smithsons were married at First Pentecostal Church in Vandalia, with the Rev. J.H. Reeter officiating.
They are the parents of three sons: Brian and his wife Melodye, Darin and his wife Stephanie, and Brad and his wife Lori.
They have 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
An open house reception will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, in the gym at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in St. Peter.

A three-day revival is planned for Sept. 21-23 at New Bethel Baptist Church northwest of Ramsey.
Preaching during the revival will be David Keyes, an evangelist from Paducah, Ky., who formerly lived in Fillmore.
Evening services will be held at 7 p.m. each night, and a basket dinner homecoming event will be held on Sunday.
For more information, call the Rev. Larry Arndt at 217-851-1779 or 283-2396.

Friendship Manor of St. Elmo recently received a five-star overall rating by Nursing Home Compare, a website within the medicare.gov website.
The star ratings are given to each nursing home facility, based on their ratings in four categories: health inspections, staffing, quality ratings and overall rating. One star indicates “much below average,” two stars means “below average,” three stars is “average,” four stars is “above average,” and five stars means “much above average.”